Improvement in hydraulic dredging-machines



2 SheetsS heet 1.

J, B. EADS. Hydraulic Dredging Machine.

No. 196,646. Patented Oct. 30,1877.

ATTEST:

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2 Sheets-Sheet? J. B. EADS. Hydraulic Dredging Machine.

Patented Oct. 30, 1877.

ATTEST:

VENTURE .7 4

N- PETERS, FNOTO-LITNOGMPHER. WASNINGYON, D C

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JAMES B. nuns, OF sT. LOUIS, 'MIssoUrn.

" IMPROVE MI ENT IN HYDRAULIC DREDGlNG-MACHINES.

V Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 196,646, dated October 30, 1877; application filed I July 7, 1877.

To all'wlwm it may concern:

.Be it known that I, JAMES B. EADs, of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Hydraulic Dredging-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

regulated the depth of cut. The scraper was also supplied with orifices for the admission of water to mixwith the sand or other dredged material, and vertical cutters acting as runners to carry the scraping-edge over obstructions.

The first part of my present improvement consists in providing means for the-vertical adjustmentof the scraper proper relatively to the gage-plate, so as to regulate atwill the depth of the cut. K

. i The second part of my improvement consists in providing on each side of the suction-pipe water-ducts, through which the clear water from above passes down into the chamber above the gage-plate, and is discharged by atmospheric pressure immediately 1 onto and back of .the scraper and mingles with the dredged material,

and is drawn .up by the suction-pump.

The water, in its passage to the earth or. sand dredged up, passesbetween the gageplate and an adjustable plate upon the upper side of the end of the suction-pipe, so that the increase of the earthopening between'the scraper-cutter and the gage-plate causes a contraction of the water-opening above thelgageplate, and vice versa, so that, by the vertical adjustment of the scraper portion relatively to the gage-plate, theamount of earth and water may be proportionally adjusted. The plate forming the top of the water-passage, in proximity to the dredged earth, is adjustable, so as u l i to regulate still further the size of the waterpassage. 1 l j The gage-plate has anumber of longitudinal slots, through which a number of water-jet nozzles protrude or come flush with the surface of the gage-plate, and which are all set in a transverse cylinder fixed to rotate on its axis, so as to adjust the inclination of the nozzles, by which the jets may be directed either onto the scraper and into the end of the suction-pipe, or downward to disintegrate the bottom. The jet-cylinder may be fed by a hose extending down to it through the upwardlyextending water-ducts, or through joints at each or either end of the cylinder from outside. Other nozzles extend from the cylinder and discharge into the water-passage above and to therear of the gage-plate.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of same. Fig. Sis a side view, somewhat modified in construction. For the general construction and arrangement of the dredge-boat and dredging apparatus I refer to my former application for de; scription. I shall herein confine myself to the parts in connection with my present improvement.

A is the suction-pipe, conneced to the boat bya j'ointforming the subject-matter of my Patent No. 189,436, granted to me the 10th day of April, 1877, or any other suitable joint which will allow of the fiexure of the pipe at the point of connection with the boat. The pipe ends at bottom in a scraper similar to that described in my application aforesaid, having a cutting-edge, B, and a curved passage-way, G, for the ascent of the sand, earth, or dredged matter.

D is aplate hinged at the upper forward side E to the bottom of the suction-pipe, and forming the top of the water-way F, leading into the passage 0. This plate is adjustable, to regulate the size of the water-opening, by screws G, which are connected to the top of the plate, and extend upward through bearings H, and are provided with set-nuts I, for purpose of adjustment.

The parts above are all firmly connected to the suction-pipe, or form part of it; but the parts now about to be described are adjustably connected to the suction-pipe.-

J is the gage or sole plate, which is formed to run upon the surface of the sand or earth at the bottom of the water.

Kare vertical plates or cutters, of which there are a number running parallel, (five are shown,) and these serve to strengthen the plate J and to cause the scraper to be lifted over solid obstructions, and also to slice the material entering the dredge into a number of separate bodies, each of which may be lubricated and disintegrated bya separate waterjet from anozzle L, discharging water through a longitudinal slot, N, in the gage-plate J.

The nozzles are connected to a transverse water-cylinder, M, which is constructed to be adjustable on axial bearings O at its ends, so

that the jet-nozzles may be inclined as may be required. Nozzles L discharge into the waterassages. The water-cylinder M is contained. in, a water-chamber, P, which is suppliedwith water by water-ducts Q at each I sidev of the suction-pipe. These water-duets are open at top, so as to take their water-supply at adistane'e from the bottom, where the water is, clear, or comparatively so. The waten'cyliiider M is supplied with water from a forcingpump, through a hose or pipe extendingthrough one or both of the water duets, for having connection with the pipe through its axis from the outside. The cylir't] der may be rotated by any suitable combinationof levers or toothed gear, so as to adjust the jets at any desired angle through an arc oiibiife hundred andotwenty or one hundred and thirty degrees.

j The lower end of. the suction-pipe, to which are attached the scraperB and plate D, is adjustable I vertically in relation to the gageplate J, so as to regulate the depth of cut by inereasing or decreasing the distance between the edge B of the scraper and the plate J, which 1 latter is supported by the surface of the earth at Ltlijebottom of the water. v

It will be observed that the plate D ascends and'descehds with the scraper, so that as the earthpassage R decreases in depth the water- 7 pa age F increases, and thus the relative a low velocity.

The relative vertical adjustment of the scraper and parts attached to it, and the gagev d connected parts, may be made by i any sintable means. I have provided for this purpose two bell-crank levers, S, fulcrumed at plate q k I ty of earth and water is adjusted accordmg to the condition of the earth or sand, (some earth requiring a greater proportion of water f thahfother eaifth,) and a high velocity of current through the suction and discharge pipes from the pumpsrequiring a less ratio of water than i T to thegage-plate portion;ofistheapparatus, and whose shorter armjs are-connected by links U to the bottom of the suction-pipe.

It will be seen that by movement of the levers a vertical adjustmentv is had of the lower end of the suction-pipe and scraper. It will only be necessary that connection should be made to the levers S, so as to move them for a d, an s. raisathawmre the weight of the scraperand suction-pipe would be ample to cause theibackward move- .ment of the levers when relieved from the forward draft upon them. This draft or attachment to the levers can be made at the upper end of the suction-pipe, near the universal joint, or on the boatiby anysiinple'and-easily arranged device. he lOWefn'd of the suction-pipe may work in verticalguides V, or may be guided by connecting-reds W, or both,

so as to insure its properfposition relative to the gage'plate part in its vertical adjustments thereupon. The front or 'erportion'of the gage-plate may be hin d iscon'nected to the suction-pipe by ged draw-bars (s m a m tween the scraper an plate, which stands at an inchnatiom-so as to cause the whole to rise over obstruct as or the draw bars may be dispensed with,a's in Fig. 3.

I claim as my 11-- i 1. The combination of suction-pipe A, substahtiallyas set forth: 2. The combination, with the gage-plate and the scraper B, of the plateau, form n n connected the top of the wat r-passage to the scraper, so a tens aniau therewith, substantially as and fortlie purpose set forth.

3,. In ombination with the gage-plate J and vertical plates of the water-ducts Q, forni ing, respectively, the bottom andsides of the water-passage F, the adjustable top plate 1), substantially as and for thelpurpose setjforth. gage-pate J with 4. The combinationof the slots for orifices N and .aid ustable jet-nozzles L, substantially as set forth 5. T e asvije a crap pat AB 1) and gage-plate Q,;a"djnstable upon each 0t er by the cal arrange:

ment, of levers and links; said adjustment.

Witnes S'AM'L. KN GHT: Gno. O. FABIAN'.

e movement be-- v M was age m of the adjustable scraperlB-at: the lower 

